A 26-year-old Northern Cape man was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment after the Postmasburg Regional Court found him guilty on charges of rape, attempted rape and robbery.
A 26-YEAR-old Northern Cape man was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment after the Postmasburg Regional Court found him guilty on charges of rape, attempted rape and robbery.
Police spokesperson Captain Olebogeng Tawana said Roderick Willemse was convicted of the rape and robbery of a 21-year-old woman and the attempted rape of a 22-year-old woman.
Tawana said the rape and robbery incident took place while Willemse was out on bail for the attempted rape charge.
“The accused committed the offences between September and October 2018. In the attempted rape incident, the court heard that on September 9, 2018, at approximately 1.45am, Willemse accosted a 22-year-old woman and attempted to rape her.
“The victim was on her way home from a local nightclub. Willemse requested the victim to give him R2 and dragged her to 2nd Avenue in Kuilsville in Danielskuil where he attempted to undress her. He threatened to kill the victim should she continue to scream. Community members in the neighbourhood heard the victim screaming and came to her rescue. Willemse fled the scene and was arrested after the victim reported the matter to the Danielskuil police. Willemse was released on bail following his appearance in court.”
Tawana added that Willemse was arrested for the rape of a 21-year-old woman while he was on bail.
“On October 21, 2018, Willemse raped a 21-year-old woman in a veld near Marateng in Kuilsville. At the time of the incident, the victim was in the company of her 13-year-old sister busy collecting wood in the veld. The accused threatened the victim with a screwdriver, raped her and robbed her of her cellphone.
“The teenager fled and alerted their brother about the incident.The victim’s brother chased after the accused and caught him. The brother handed the accused over to the local police. The accused was found in possession of the victim’s cellphone as well as the screwdriver that was instrumental in the rape incident.”
Tawana said that Willemse remained in custody until the finalisation of his trial.
“The accused was arrested and charged with robbery and rape. The investigation officer, Sergeant David Mongake, successfully opposed bail and the accused was remanded in custody until the finalisation of his trial.
“The local regional court sentenced Willemse to 10 years direct imprisonment on the rape charge, six years direct imprisonment for robbery and a further two years direct imprisonment for robbery. Willemse was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.”
Tawana said the investigating officer was applauded for the arrest and conviction.
“The provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Koliswa Otola, lauded the investigating officer, Mongake, for his meticulous investigation that resulted in the incarceration of the perpetrator.”
